NEW YORK RED BULLS

September 25, 2012HAMSTRUNGMarquez out for 2 weeks

Hans Backe on Rafa Marquez (above): “He hasn’t had the possibility to be consistent in training this season. He’s in and out, injuries and things like that. It’s not really a surprise that you pick up things; I would say it’s quite common.”
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Sometimes defender, sometimes midfielder and almost always injured, Rafa Marquez will be sidelined again with a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday’s 1-1 result at New England.

Marquez was pulled off the field in the 34th minute at Gillette Stadium with the injury, this after having made three straight appearances with the club - his second longest stretch of consecutive appearances with the Red Bulls this season. He had returned from a calf injury.

Marquez did not train at Montclair State University on Tuesday and was unavailable for comment.

“Hamstring strain, they guessed two weeks so probably it is around two weeks,” Backe said after practice.

“He hasn’t had the possibility to be consistent in training this season. He’s in and out, injuries and things like that. It’s not really a surprise that you pick up things; I would say it’s quite common.”

Backe said that with Marquez’s multitude of injuries this season, he was not surprised that the player cannot get healthy. It is almost like a domino effect and the lack of time on the training field is negatively impacting Marquez’s ability to get quality minutes in MLS action.

With that being said, Backe wass pleased that the enigmatic designated player has put his head down recently and attempted to right his personal ship during what has been a tempestuous 2012 season.

“He’s definitely decided to come back and contribute in a good way. As I said to him today, it has been a strange season for him with all the injuries,” Backe said. “The only way is to keep going, get fresh. Try to come back and train as normal.”

Marquez has played in just 12 of the Red Bulls' 30 matches this season and 792 minutes of a possible 2,700 regulation minutes played. Based off his $4.6 million salary, Marquez has made $5,808 for every minute played this season. That translates to $96.80 per second on the field.